The Joseph S. Murphy Institute at the CUNY School of Professional Studies is pleased to announce the launch of a national scholarship competition dedicated to fostering a diverse leadership in the labor movement and in the academic field of labor studies.

A collaboration between the City University of New York and New York City labor unions, the Joseph S. Murphy Institute at CUNY SPS (the Murphy Institute) is nationally recognized for offering exceptional undergraduate and graduate education, particularly in labor studies and urban studies. It has attracted some of the most prestigious faculty in the country.

The Murphy Institute recently embarked on a campaign to raise scholarship funds to address the lack of racial and gender diversity in union leadership and labor scholarship. It is now ready to award significant scholarships to deserving students: up to $30,000 for graduate students and up to $20,000 for undergraduate students.

"With this competition, we are seeking to attract candidates from under-represented constituencies who wish to pursue careers either with unions, or, alternatively, with universities in labor-related fields of study," said Murphy Institute Director Gregory Mantsios. "Our goal is to help prepare the next generation of union leaders, advocates, and labor scholars, and to do everything we can to ensure that the new leadership adequately reflects the diversity of the U.S. labor force."

The scholarships result from a University challenge grant during the leadership of former City University of New York Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, and are named in honor of former CUNY Chancellor Joseph S. Murphy, a tireless advocate for working people. If the challenge is met, $1 million in scholarship funds will be raised over the next five years.

"The CUNY School of Professional Studies was founded on the ideal of providing opportunities for workers to continue and complete their college educations," noted John Mogulescu, the School's Dean. "We are thrilled to be offering this new opportunity and to be making a contribution to diversity and excellence in the labor movement and the field of labor studies."

Students who are committed to diversity and excellence are invited to apply by the March 31, 2014 application deadline.